The 60-day window set by the memorandum of understanding the United States and Iran signed in June expired
By Bernard Moerdler,
The 60-day window set by the memorandum of understanding the United States and Iran signed in June expired today without an agreement, with the two sides still divided over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the "number one Goal" is to prevent Iran from having "in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon."
Al Arabiya reported this afternoon that the two sides agreed to extend the ceasefire by a further 60 days. A senior Iranian official told reporters that "there are no talks about an extension," saying Washington violated the interim agreement and later withdrew from it. BNN was not able to independently verify either account.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the exchange of messages does not mean negotiations have resumed and that Tehran will not return to the table while Washington continues, in Iran's view, to violate the agreement. Qatar and Pakistan continue to pass messages between the two governments.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote that the strait "will open and close only on Iran's orders" and cannot be taken over "through tweets, aircraft carriers, orders, or election speeches." Tehran has conditioned reopening on an end to the war, the release of frozen Iranian funds and compensation for war damage, as we reported earlier.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Iranian and Arab officials, that Iran used the 60-day period to prepare for expanded fighting, increasing production of missiles and drones and sending Revolutionary Guards advisers to groups it backs in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon to discuss escalation.
Topics: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Lebanon & Hezbollah
Reported by Bernard Moerdler for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.